The oldest and largest active certified organic farm in the state has changed owners, but for founder Rosaly Bass it is “absolutely the most wonderful thing that has ever happened.”
Bass’s step-granddaughter Alex Walker and Walker’s half-sister Clover Fiandaca have purchased Rosaly’s Garden and Farmstand and are excited to give the business new life while preserving the parts of the farm that have kept it special for almost 50 years.
Rosaly’s sits on the side of Route 123 in Peterborough, and in the growing season it’s a common stop for locals looking for fresh, organic vegetables. The parking lot looks over rows of plants and flowers, and customers can stroll through the garden beds before they stop into the farmstand to pick up a seasonal selection of produce.
Bass grew up on a farm, so when she married Perkins Bass and moved onto what is now the Rosaly’s property, she knew she wanted to garden. She could drive a tractor and plant crops, but when she started to grow on the land she was only planning to farm on a small scale.
“I didn’t have a business plan or name,” she said with a laugh.
But soon she was selling wholesale to local restaurants and retailers and the operation kept getting bigger. In 1989, as soon as it was possible, Rosaly’s Garden became the second organic farm in the state. They built a farmstand in 1990 and the business transitioned to selling their produce on-site.
Spreading out out a laminated topographic map of the farmland on her dining room table, Walker and Fiandaca pointed to an area with little red rectangles where they are hoping to place future greenhouses. They would like to move more of the farming operation closer to the farmstand.
“We want to make it so the public can walk around and see what’s happening,” Walker explained.
Fiandaca loves the pick-your-own flower gardens and is excited to continue to get people into the fields.
Walker and Fiandaca want to create a space where the community can come walk around, watch farming in action, and bring their children. They are hoping to add Walker’s homemade tomato sauce, salad dressings and soups to the farmstand. They would love to have food trucks in the future and start a community pizza night.
“We’ve talked about having some animals around,” added Fiandaca.
Walker started working for Rosaly’s when she was 12 or 13.
“I worked for years at the farm. I know the systems and the land,” she said.
Fiandaca moved to Peterborough from Los Angeles in January of 2021 after her husband’s job became remote and they wanted to get out of the city. She has four children and is excited to raise them on the farm.
“I’m hoping they can be very hands-on,” she said.
The sisters are excited and nervous to start this new chapter of their lives, but they’re throwing their all into the business. They are hiring employees for the growing season and picking out seeds, getting ready to dive into the soil.
“We have lots of big plans,” said Walker.
“It [having a local organic farm in the community] may become more important for the community than ever,” Fiandaca said.
Bass reflected on the changes she has noticed in the climate over her lifetime, challenges that she and farm manager Matt Gifford, who also had an ownership stake in the farm, have had to navigate each season.
“It’s a lot warmer and storms are more severe,” she said.
The farm is active on Facebook and Instagram. They are setting up a new website and updating their logo, but will continue to be Rosaly’s Garden.